Guy Templeton Black

Henry Senyak

Captions please. What happened?

164 ballots cast.

President:

Board:

Tim Russo behind Adam Harvey

Tim was there, videoing much of the lengthy process. From his blog, TWDC meeting held in drama free, quorum free environment:

Only 149 or so members showed up. Which wasn’t enough for a quorum. The president of TWDC, Tom Cook, held a vote to carry on with the meeting without a quorum. Cook explained that if the meeting carried on without a quorum, a vote would be held anyway on the new board, the results would not be binding, but would be handed to the current board [...]

Councilman Cimperman told a story he'd read recently in the PD, a Cherokee fable quoted by Connie Schultz:

"One evening, a grandfather was teaching his young grandson about the internal battle that each person faces.

" 'There are two wolves struggling inside each of us,' the old man said.

" 'One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear. The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love.'

"The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: 'Which wolf wins, Grandfather?'

"His grandfather replied, 'The one you feed.' "

I have to admit TWDC was caught up in a true Catch 22 that no one was prepared for which means we do need real change.

I caught up with one of the counters in the parking lot. I guess there was another issue. Does one question why 164 ballots were cast? But only 110 tallied for the office of President? Unfortunately several on the ballots that had my name written in as a candidate were disqualified because the member did not color in the box next to where it said "Write in".  (Small fix for next year – clearer instructions printed on the ballot)

I did not ask how many, that would be unethical. This was an effort in democracy with me. I did not take this serious, nor did I lobby the crowd. I just wanted to see the looks on people’s faces, and who would put up the roadblock. That was the fight I was looking for.

I clearly do not fault Becca Riker for asking for clarification at all. I am actually glad she did, and we went forward, it sets a precedence, well at least until they change the by-laws, but I would guess now I am grandfathered in.

Tonight should hopefully lead to more block clubs sending ex-officio's to the Board of TWDC. And that an Ex-officio could be taken seriously just like any others.

I am too tired to comment on the defacto election overall. It was actually fun to participate but some candidates were really disenfranchised in the process.

The main issue is 164 people did show up and wanted to vote. The vote is moot, I bet you 155 of the people that voted tonight does not know or did not care about the election process, the by-laws, or the violation of equal protection. They just wanted to vote I don't blame them.

I really wonder if this will be challenged? The vote that is. I have no thoughts to do so. The Board come February has a serious and delicate issue to deal with.

Well enough let’s talk the positives.

A) Election Monitors

B) Actual printed minutes read and approved for the first time since I have been going.

C) Ballot Instructions, and direction from the Nominating Committee personnel. (This does need to be refined) I did request of several people to not make their ballots until the presiding officer called for the vote.

D) Announcing the actual vote count to the membership.

E) Allowing discussion and debate in new business without prejudice. (No new business could be transacted, but it could be referred to committee per Roberts Rules)

Glad TWDC rolled with my idea for Lt. Hogan and station #21 they deserved the standing ovation. (Do you guys have any footage of that? If you do post it. They are great guys.

  From IMDB.com: Rod Serling's seminal anthology series focused on ordinary folks who suddenly found themselves in extraordinary, usually supernatural, situations. The stories would typically end with an ironic twist that would see the guilty punished.

I am sorry Jeff S...don't be fooled by Cimperman's little morality story...I am sick of these stories.   Maybe, he is too young to have seen Rod Serling's Eye of the Beholder episode, but there's some morality there for Mr. Cimperman.

To all of you who made the TWDC process more transparent and accountable and thanks, especially, for this coverage.

(Mr. Russo--you stole my Twilight Zone line...I forgive you...since you are just a flamin' blogger like the rest of us here at RealNEO...and what's mine is yours..thanks for the excellent video coverage...am I being too filthy for you? :)

my comments to Mr. Russo's "unbiased" reporting (he IS trying to get into the Tremont political club, afterall):

Very witty, Tim, but you fail to mention that The Flame War Bloggers agitated to bring about major changes in this years election (as Flame War Blogger #2 posted):
A) Election Monitors

B) Actual printed minutes read and approved for the first time since I have been going.

C) Ballot Instructions, and direction from the Nominating Committee personnel. (This does need to be refined) I did request of several people to not make their ballots until the presiding officer called for the vote.

D) Announcing the actual vote count to the membership.

E) Allowing discussion and debate in new business without prejudice. (No new business could be transacted, but it could be referred to committee per Roberts Rules)

I dont know about you, but I think these are all essential qualities in a democratic election. None of these things had ever happened prior and every year there have been complaints.
You also failed to mention Flame War Bloggers #4 Kelto and #5 Stop the Hate who posted vicious personal attacks on line.... oh- but then we dont know WHO they actually are - do we - they hide behind their moniker.

Good journalism, Tim.

Mine either.